Windmill



F. R. POTTS April 2, 1929.

WINDMILL Filed July 192 2 Sheets-Sheet HHHHH uu n cnu l dHHl IH HI IHApril 2, 1929. F. R. POTTS 2 WINDMILL Filed July 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'IIIi'I'I'IIIIIII'IM Qwoenfoz R.P0Zia /4- flefq a(% Patented Apr. 2,

uni'rs s-r Brennan. Pores, on BoLoKoiv, MISSOURI.

WINDMILL.

Application filed July 2, 1926. Serial No. 120,104.

This invention relates to new a'nd useful improvements in windmills, andparticularly to windmills which are arranged fordriving electricgenerators.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is automatic in its operation to move the blades into and out ofthe wind.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may bethrown out of the wind, by hand, using the same means which operatesautomatically. 7 Other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation'of a windmill made in accordance with thepresent invention, showing the upper structure.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the lower structure of the windmill, showingthemanually operable cut out, and the generator driven by the mill.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the wheel and vane.

Figure i is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view on the line 1-4of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the member 26.

Figure 6 is a vertical. sectional detail view of the member 26, on theline 6-6 of Fig ure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of Figure .3.

Referring particularly to the accompany-- ing' drawings, 10 represents.a tower on which is supported the platform 11, and supported on theupper end of the tower is the frame 12', of the wind-wheel.Rotatablysupported on the upper endof the frame 12, and operable onantifriction bearings, is a casing 13, into which extends the upper endof the vertical shaft 1 1, said shaft extending down to the lower end ofthe tower, where it is detachably connected with the shaft of thegenerator 15. Extending horizontally through the casing 13 the driveshaft 16, of the wind-wheel 17, and secured on this shaft is a spiralgear wheel 1, which engages with a spiral gear 19, on the shaft 141-,whereby to drive-the generator 15. Pivotally mounted on the rear end ofthe casing 13, for horizontal swinging movement, are the converging armsof a vane 20, a spring being connected to one arm of the vane, and tothe casingthroughthe medium at eye bolt adjustahly secured by nutsreceived by the bolt to' an ear formed with. the casing as best shown inFigure 7 whereby to normally urge the vane in one direction. Carried bythe inner end portions of the arms of the vane is a cross strip havingsecured thereto midway its enda'a right angle shape bracket having a-lug21 thereon which is arranged to engage with a stud extending from thecasing to limit the swinging move ment of the vane in the direction inwhich it is urged by the spring 20. On one side of the casing there ismounted a horizontal pulley 22, and in'said side of the casing, ad jacent the pulley, is an opening 23. Mounted within the casing, oppositesaid opening, is a vertical pulley 24.' Connected to the arm of I thevane to which the spring 20 is connected, is one end of a chain 25, saidchain passing over the pulley 22, through the opening 23,

over the pulley 24, and downwardly through the frame 12. Keyed on thelower end of a sleeve 24 secured to the casing 13 and surrounding theshaft 1 is a swivel 26 which includes an upper part 27 mounted on thesleeve for rotation therewith and'a lower part 28 rotatably receivingthe upper part and held against rotation by a rod 29 secured end thereofis the other end of the said chain 25. In the last mentioned arm of thevane 20 are formed a series-of openings 27, for interchangeablereception of the adjacent end of the spring 20, whereby to cooperatewith the bolt to regulate the tension of the spring, and the degree-ofpull exerted thereby on the vane. Mounted on the lower portion of thetower is a winding drum 28, around which is wound a length of chain 29,having connected therewith of a wire 30 which is secured to the eye 32of the lower part of the swivel 26. The drum is provided with a crankhandle 31, by means of which it is adapted to be rotated, to wind thechain so as to exert pull on the chain. 25, to cause the vane to beswung around, and thus turn the casing to present the edge of the wheelto the wind.

As the wind wheel rotates, by the pressure of the wind thereagainst ithas a tendency to rotate the casing 13 on its bearings due to the Changof direction of the wi l. The pres of wind, however, enacted a; instagainst the pull of the chain 25 as shown, the

wind wheel will be held in the face of the wind. Should the windpressure become excessive, the tendency of the wheel to rotate thecasing will bcconie greater and finally this would be accomplishedagainst the ten- 'sion of the spring with the result the angle betweenthe vane and easing will be reduced, whereby the edge oit the Wheelwill, be presented to the wind and said wheel 5 greatly checked in'itsrotation or completely stopped. As soon asthe wind pressure has reducedin torcetoan extent less than the force of spring 20, the spring willimmedi- -at'ely restore the vane to the position -as 20 shown, with=theface of the wheel presented to the wind. Thus it will. be seen that thewheel'is automatically controlled so that excessive rotation thereofwill be prevented whereby to protect the gears, shafts and the generator'15.

\Vhen it is desired to retain the wheel out "of the face of the windtostop the rotation 'olthe shaft l lfthe chain-29 is wound about thedrum-28m draw the vane against the tension of the spring 20 in aplane-parallel with -the'casin ggandregardless of the rotation of thecasing '13,-theswivel will allow this'operati'on and follow withthemovelnent otthe parts ;accorfdingl-y, with the result eflicientoperation ot-the parts is-assured.

Thelowerend Of tllti'sl'ltlifll 14 is connected with-thegeneratorshaftby means of a slidablecoll'a r 15, whichisadapted to be movedupwzirdlyon the shaft 14,-to permit the'reinoval ol? thegenerator.

'Ata point on the casing where the spring '20 is connectedthereareprovided-thelock 'nuts which permit of "adju'stn'ient of the spring,to regulate thc'tensionthereof.

lVhile I have shown a vertical windwheel, I wish it understood thathorizontal 'whe'el maybe used, or any other suitable type employed by 'asimplerearrangement of the gears, within theskill of any mechanic.

llhat is claimed is: '1. A windmill comprising a'tower, a iraine suported by said tower, a casing mounted dior rotation on said frame, adrive shait extending horizontally through said casing, a

driven shaft geared to the drive "shaft and by, a wind wheel secured tothe drive shaft,

eonvers in" arms havin their remote ends n b b V I )ivoted to the casinoa vane secured to the 1 l adjacent ends oi? said arms, a strip bridgingthe arms, a bracket secured to said strip, a lug secured-to the bracket,a stud extending; irom the casing and arranged in the path of the lug, acoil spring having one end ad- Justably secured to the (52151115); andIts opposite end ad Usta'bly secured'to one arm whereby the tensionot'the s )illl ma be varied said CD 7 springbeing adapted to urge thevane to a :position at right angles to the wheels, and

means including a swivel for-manually operating the vane against thetension of the sprm 2. -A windmill comprising a tower, a frame supportedby said. tower, a casing mounted for rotation on said fran e, an eari'orn ed with said-casing, arms pivoted to said casing; and one otsaidarms'being provided with a series of openings, at vane secured to saidarms, a rotatable shaft carried by said cas ing, a wind wheel secured tothe rotatable shaft, a shaft extending through said casing, frameandtower and rotated by said rotatable shatt,-an eye bolt adjustablysecured in said car, a coil springhaviug: one end secured in the eye ofthe eyebolt and its opposite end adjustably secured to the arm throughthe medium of one oft the openings therein, said coil spring beingadapted to retain the vane at right angles to the wheel, a swivel, adrum,

and means between t-ae swivel and said drum risnnn r

